Two Russia national sevens players suspended after positive probes

LONDON, March 12. /TASS/. The World Rugby suspended two Russia national sevens players from all competition following notification of potential anti-doping rule violations, the organization reported on its website.

Alexei Mikhaltsov, a member of the national men’s sevens squad, and his wife Alena, a member of the national women’s squad, tested positive for the prohibited substance Meldonium (Mildronate).

Russian sports was hit this week by a new case in a chain of doping-related scandals after some of the country’s athletes tested positive for banned substance meldonium.

The drug meldonium (mildronate) was included in the list of preparations banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency from January 1, 2016, after which several Russian athletes tested positive for the banned substance.

Those in Russia who have proved to have used meldonium, besides the Mikhaltsovs, are cyclist Eduard Vorganov, figure skater Yekaterina Bobrova, tennis player Maria Sharapova, skater Pavel Kulizhnikov, short-track skaters Semion Elistratov and Ekaterina Konstantinova, volleyball player Aleksandr Markin and biathlete Eduard Latypov.

The presence of the meldonium substance in the athlete’s blood during and between competitions is a violation of anti-doping rules. The substance belongs to S4 class on the WADA blacklist (hormones and metabolic modulators).